Sustainability & Environmental Studies

University of Strathclyde

United Kingdom, Glasgow

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Home/United Kingdom/Glasgow /University of Strathclyde/Sustainability & Environmental Studies

University of Strathclyde

United Kingdom , Glasgow

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Research

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

MainSite

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesJanuary-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 12 month(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 30,250 / year

Next Intake January-2026

Sustainability & Environmental Studies

About

Study with us

receive cross-disciplinary teaching from all four Faculties in the University
gain skills in environmental management, circular economy, EIA and sustainability
design your own curriculum to suit your career aspirations
opportunity to carry out an industrial project
suitable for graduates from any background
join the more the 600 alumni from this MSc in a wide range of job opportunities

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the

Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)
Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT)
Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE)

on behalf of the Engineering Council as: meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree.*

See Joint Board of Moderators website for further information.

*It should be noted that candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited bachelor degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.

Why this course?

Our MSc Sustainability & Environmental Studies offers a cross-disciplinary approach to the study of environmental management and policy, circular economy, sustainability and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in both developed and developing countries. It is suitable for applicants from all academic backgrounds and our wide range of subject options enables you to choose classes to suit your background.

You’ll learn about major environmental issues and the circular economy and gain an understanding of the methods in which environmental considerations and climate change are used in development and planning decisions. You'll be expected to probe, for example, strategies and policy options for achieving sustainable development without increasing the ecological footprint of economic activities.

A unique feature of the department is our strong link to industry and public bodies, which is an essential part of our approach to research and education. It also provides our students with valuable contacts outside the world of academia.

Running since 1992, this is one of the oldest sustainability degrees in the UK. This innovative interdisciplinary degree was created to allow access to sustainability and environmental classes across all four faculties. The University celebrated the 30-year anniversary of the MSc with a photographic exhibition showcasing how alumni from this degree are contributing to "Sustainability in Action" in a variety of jobs globally.

Our graduates are in demand

There’s a strong demand for graduates with skills in environmental management, EIA, circular economy and policy-making. We’ve seen our more than 600 graduates capitalise on a wide range of employment within the private, public and voluntary sectors.

Video: hear from our Head of Department

Sustainability in action all around us

Members of our department work in partnership with Glasgow City Council as part of Sustainable Glasgow.

And the University is leading an ambitious Climate Neutral Glasgow City Innovation District project to create a 100% renewable, climate-neutral and climate resilient campus, integrating heat, power, transport, climate adaptation and wellbeing solutions.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements	Normally a first-class or second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in any degree discipline. All backgrounds considered, including social sciences, arts, engineering, law, chemistry, maths, physics, geology, biology and business. Lower degree classifications may be considered if there is strength elsewhere (for example, relevant work experience, excellent final project/dissertation, very strong academic letter of reference, very strong application statement linking with career goals.)
English language requirements	If English is not your first language, please visit our English language requirements page for full details of the requirements in place before making your application.

Academic requirements

Normally a first-class or second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in any degree discipline.

All backgrounds considered, including social sciences, arts, engineering, law, chemistry, maths, physics, geology, biology and business.

Lower degree classifications may be considered if there is strength elsewhere (for example, relevant work experience, excellent final project/dissertation, very strong academic letter of reference, very strong application statement linking with career goals.)

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, please visit our English language requirements page for full details of the requirements in place before making your application.

Undergraduate

Students who have studied the Tawjihiyya/Thanawiya General School Certificate are eligible for entry via a foundation programme from the ISC. Students that have studied an International Qualification such as A Levels, IB Diploma, French Bac or the American High School system should check the relevant country.

Postgraduate

A good degree from a recognised Higher Education Institution is acceptable for postgraduate study at Strathclyde. Our applications are judged on a case-by-case basis and can vary depending on the course. As a guide, we normally consider a GPA of 2.8 out of 4 and 3.8 out of 5.

English Program Requirements

We accept a number of English language tests as proof of proficiency in English. IELTS is the most widely available. Information on this can be found on the British Council Website.

Our current standard requirements are:

IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no individual band less than 5.5)
Faculty of Science: IELTS (Academic): 6.0 overall (no individual band less than 5.5)
Faculty of Engineering (Undergraduate only): IELTS (Academic): 6.0 overall (no individual band less than 5.5)

Some degree programmes have different English language requirements to the above so please check each individual course page for details.

Other English language tests may be acceptable and you can find these here:

Recognised English language qualifications for pre-sessional and degree entry

If you have a qualification not listed, you should contact our Recruitment & International Office for advice.

Career

Careers

There are now more than 600 alumni from this pioneering Sustainability MSc that span the globe, contributing to environmental agencies, businesses, consultancies, NGOs and government departments.

As a graduate, you may find yourself in a range of positions in:

Private consultancies
Government agencies
Local authorities
Environmental regulators
Businesses and agencies

Some of our graduates have also created their own companies and some started a PhD after completing the MSc.

Job titles include:

Carbon Reporting Consultant
Circular Economy Advisor
Climate Change Manager
Community Renewal Energy Manager
Contaminated Land Officer
EIA project manager
Energy & Environmental Manager
Environmental Consultant
Environmental Officer
Estates Manager
Forest Planner
Low Carbon Project Officer
Principal Senior Ecologist
Sustainability Analyst

Employers include:

Arup
Atkins
East Dunbartonshire Council
Forestry and Land Scotland
Jacobs Engineering
NatureScot
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
Scottish Government
SSE Renewables
Transport Scotland
Zero Waste Scotland

After graduation, many of our graduates get an Associate membership of IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment) by doing the online exam. Becoming an Associate member of IEMA allows you to use the AIEMA suffix after your name — a way to prove to employers, clients and colleagues that you’re on the great career path that the MSc has given you. Most of our students also become members of the IAIA (International Association for Impact Assessment).

34 career examples that this course has enabled over the last 30 years

This wide range of careers shows a growing need for an appropriately trained and environmentally aware workforce to respond to the challenge of sustainable development, the climate crisis and achieving biodiversity net gain. Meeting this need requires a cross-disciplinary education such as the one provided by this degree.

View career examples

Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city

Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.

Life in Glasgow

Fee Information

Fees & funding

All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.

Please note, for courses that have a January 2024 start date, 2023/24 academic year fees will apply. For courses that have a September 2024 and a January 2025 start date, 2024/25 academic year fees will apply.

Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.

All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.

Annual revision of fees

Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.

Tuition Fee

GBP 30,250

Application Fee

GBP